Apparatus for pouring metal into molds



Dec. 17, 1940. H. B. HANsoN APPARATUS FOR POURING METAL INTO MOLDS FiledMarch 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l R, m m V m Dec. 17, 1940.

H. B. HANSON APPARATUS FOR POURING METALINTO MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 25, 1939 Dec. 17, 1940. H. B. HANsoN APPARATUS FOR POURINGMETAL INTO MOLDS Filed March 23, 1939 3 Shee'c.s-Shee1'I 3 Patented Dec.17, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,225,173 APPARATUS Fon. roUnlNG METAL INTO MomsHarry B. Hanson, Detroit,

Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich.,

l of Delaware Mich., assignor to Ford a corporation Application March23, 1939, Serial No. 263,717

l1 Claims.

vl portant when pouring into small molds that the metal remain in themeasuring and pouring receptacles for a minimumof time since if the timeis too great, the volume of metal being small,

heat therefrom will be very quickly transferredv l to the container anda detrimental lowering of temperature will result. In fact thevtime lost.in shuttling and positioning small 'ladles has been considered ascontributing to the impracticability of pouring small molds by acontinuous method. If metal is to be measured and poured from4 smallladles they must therefore be very quickly handled. It is alsodimportant that there be a deflnite timing in the pouring 'of the metalfrom the time it leaves the furnace to the time it isl poured into amold. Obviously if this elapsed time is not constant the results willnot be uniform. However, if mechanism is available to effect continuouspouring of metal from a furnace and to pass it thru a cycle ofoperations with.

a definite timing and this timing is adjusted to assure satisfactoryresults then in successively pouring a plurality of molds each willreceive the metal at substantially the same temperature and a uniformproduct will result.

In order that the pouring of a plurality of molds be eected in a mannerpractical for use with modern production methods it is important thatI amechanism be devised which will operate in combination with a conveyorsystem carrying molds to and from the pouring station. For most eectiveresults thezmolds should remain on the conveyor at all times and -becontinuously moving along the path of conveyor travel. Since the aboverequirement necessitates that thepouring mechanism operate in timedrelation with the conveyor there must' be some'provision whereby the twomechanisms are driven in synch-ronism.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide amechanism which when interposed between a melting furnace and a conveyorline carrying molds, will accurately measure and pour molten metal intosaid molds without interrupting the continuous travel of said conveyorand will deliver molten metal into said molds under conditions whichwill assure a satisfactory of Fig. 2, but in this view molded productwhile maintaining a rate of production suflicient to satisfy modernfactory production standards.

It is another object to provide an automatic mechanism capable ofaccurately measuring small quantities of molten metal and pouring thesame into small molds continuously conveyed past the pouring mechanism,the cycle of operations being such as to effect satisfactory handling ofsmall quantities of molten metal by assuring a satisfactory timeinterval required to complete the measuring and pouring operations.

It is a. further object to provide an automatic measuring and pouringmechanism capable of receiving molten metal continuously poured from afurnace or other source 'and automatically pour-A ing measuredquantities of metal into molds conveyed past said mechanism.

It is another objectto provide a pouring mechanism capable of operationin synchronism with a conveyor carrying molds past said mechanism.

It is a further object to make available an automatic pouring mechanismthe drive. for which is eected from the conveyor carrying molds to befilled thereby assuring synchronism between said conveyor and saidmechanism.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully inthe following more detailed description and by reference to theaccompanying drawings formingl a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the several parts of the mechanism hereindisclosed, including a furnace, measuring and pouring means and theconveyor carrying the molds.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and shows severalparts of the measuring device, the furnace and the conveyor togetherwith the mechanism used to tilt ladles for pouring the molten metal intomolds.

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal view taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 andshows the rotating turntable with a plurality of pouring and measuring`ladles mounted thereon.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the same line 3-3 the tumtabie is shown withthe pouring ladles removed to indicate more in detail the constructionof the table and the ,means thereon to eiect driving contact between thetable and the molds carried by the conveyor whereby the pouringmechanismv and the con veyor are operated in synchronism.

Referring to the drawings, andparticularly Figs. l and 2, a meltingfurnace I0, is provided with a-spout Il, from which molten metal may bepoured into a pouring ladle I3. which is pivotally mounted to tilt on ashaft I4 and adapted to be manually tilted for pouring by a hand wheelI5. yThe ladle I3, is provided with a skimming device as indicated inFig. 2,` by the weir wall I6. The pouring lip I1 of the ladle I6projects to a position directly above the circular path of a pluralityof measuring and pouring ladles I8. These ladles are carried on aturntable I9 which is mounted for rotation about a shaft 20, suitablesupporting means 2I being providedfincluding a thrust'bearing 22. Theshaft 20 is a stationary shaft and has secured thereto a stationary cam23. Each of the previously mentioned measuring and pouring ladles I8 hassuitably mounted casters 24 (Fig. 2) so positioned as to ride upon a camtrack 26. Each of the ladles I8 is positioned and mounted to tilt on apivot 21 near the outer edge of each ladle, the pivot 21 being mountedon an upwardly extending projection 28 of the turntable I9. It will beevident on inspection of Fig. 2 that, with a suitable shape provided forcam track 26, the pouring ladles I8 will be tilted successively as theypass the high portion 29 of the cam track 26. It is also noted that thepouring ladles I8 are each provided with a pouring lip 3I.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conveyor line 32 is Ashown with a conveyor chain33 which is guided aroundy a sprocket 34 and onto a central and' largersprocketl35 and nally a third sprocket 36, the chain continuing in itsnormal line oi travel as shown at 31. It is evident on inspection ofFig. 1, that fthe large central -sprocket 35 and the two adjacentsprockets 34 and 36 assure that the chain 33 will be carried in an arcWhich is nearly the half-circumference of the large central sprocket 35.

Referring to Fig. 2 it is noted that the chain 33 is supported from anoverhead track 40 by means of a plurality of conveyor trolleys 38, onlyone of which is shown in Fig. 2.

The large sprocket 35 is mounted to rotate upon the stationary shaft 20as will be evident on inspection of Fig. 2. It is also noted that thechain 33 carries vertically positioned support members 39, a pluralityof such members being suspended from trolleys 38 below the chain andeach of said supports being provided with a platform 4I on which mold 42is carried. The

distribution of these supports and molds along Ithe chain is shown byreference to Fig. 1. Referring both to Figs. 1 and 2, and withconsideration of the descriptions just given, it will be apparent thatthe plurality of molds 42 carried below the chain will be carried in aposition adjacent to the outer circumference of the'rotating table I9and on reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that semi-circular openings43 are provided to position the molds 42 during their travel around anarc defined by the circumference of the table I9. The semi-circularopenings 43 are cut out of a flange member 44 lsecured around theoutside of the table I9. Considering the path of travel of the conveyorand molds as defined by the sprocket 35 it will be evident on inspectionof Figs. 2, 3 and 4 that the ymovement of the conveyor carrying molds 42will cause thertable I9 to rotate. This movement results because of thedriving action exerted when thel molds 42, moving with the conveyor,contact the openings 43 on the periphery of the table I9. Thus theopenings 43 serve both to position the molds under the pouring ladles I8and -to synchronize the movement of the tabl-e I8 with the conveyor.

As shown in Fig. 3 a so-called drip shield or deflecting plate 46 ispositioned between each of the ladles I8. 'I'hese deilecting plates 46overlap adjacent ladles, for the purpose of directing molten metalthereto, and are pivotally mounted on pins 46a (Fig. 2) so that when theladles I8 are tilrted the deflecting plates will be carried with theladles.

In operation of the mechanism the molds 42 will be carried in positiondirectly under the pouring lips 3| of the ladles I8 for the time duringwhich the conveyor line follows the arc defined bythe table I9. As shownin Fig. 3, a plurality of molds 42 are continuously in contact with theturntable and therefore in position to receive metal from the pouringladles I 8, any individual mold being in position for the time it takesto travel the arc above mentioned.

It is possible to start a continuous ilow of molten metal from thefurnace through the pouring spout I I into the pouring ladle I 3 and bymanual operation of the hand wheel I5 to pour molten metal continuouslyinto the measuring and pouring ladles I8 which are carried on therotating table I 9 directly beneath the pouring lip I'I of the ladle I3.It will be noted on reference to Fig. 3 that deflecting plates 46 are solocated to overlap the pouring ladles I8 so that as the table is rotatedand the plurality of ladles I8 are carried under rthe large ladle I3 anymetal which may be flowing at the timeone ladle is substituted foranother, will be deflected into one or the other of the adjacent ladles.It is therefore possible to ll the ladles completely and thereby toobtain a measured amount of metal in each ladle, the excess beingallowed to overow into a drip basin 50 (Fig. 3). The camtrack 26 is soshaped as to hold lthe ladles I 8 in a horizontal position during thetime they are being nlled and as the table I9 is rotated it will carrythe ladles around on the stationary cam track 26 which is so formed asto tilt the ladles when they come in position on the arc previouslymentioned, at which time the molds 42 will be in position under thepouring lips 3|. A mold will thereby receive the entire amount of metalcarried by a ladle during the time the mold is in contact with theturntable. It is therefore evident that a continuous line of moldscarried by the conveyor may be kept moving past the pouring stationprovided by the rotating turntable I9 and thereby will be lled withmolten metal and carried away on the conveyor line as shown at 31 inFig. 1.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the molten metal pouredfrom lip I'I of ladle I3 is only carried a. distance equal toapproximately one-third of the circumference of table I9 before theladle I8 begins to pour metal into a mold 42 positioned under thepouring lip of the ladle. As the table I9 rotates and the conveyor movesthe,Y molds in an arcuate path, the ladle I8 is tilted by cam track 26in a gradually increasing amount until all metal has been poured intothe mold. Thiscompletion of pouring is accomplished at aboutmid-position of the arc of contact of fthe molds with the table. Themolds are held in position until the ladles again reach a horizontalnon-pouring position. Since the pouring isy complete at approximatelymid-position of the arc of contact, it will be apparent on inspection ofFig. 3 that by rthe time a ladle has travelled a little over half thecircumference of the table the entire pouring operation will becompleted and therefore the mechanism can be said to provide a very-direct path for the molten metal from spout I1 to the mold 42. It isalso 5 noted that with a uniform rat`e of travel for the conveyor therotation of table I9 will be uniform and therefore the time required tocarry metal from spout I1 tothe mold will be uniform for successivemolds.

With the provision of the drip basin 50 the ladles I8 may be lledcompletely and the amount of metal thereby accurately measured. Suchaccuracy is very important in producing satisfactory products from smallmolds. The drip shields or deectors I6 are also important in that theyenable a continuous flow of metal to be poured from spout I'l.

Although the invention has been described as applied to a specicconstruction found practical in actual use, it is understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be resorted to without changingthe fundamental principles as indicated by the scope of the followingclaims..

1. In a mechanism for continuously pouring molten metal into a pluralityof molds, a horizontally rotatable turntable, a plurality of measuringand pouring receptacles carried on said turntable, means to tilt saidreceptacles to positions for receiving metal duringthe rotation of saidturntable and to pour metal therefrom during another portion of therotation, a conveyor line comprising a conveyor chain, support trolleysfor said conveyor chain, mold support means extending downwardly fromsaid trolleys -and beneath said conveyor chain, a plurality of sprocketsfor guiding said conveyor chain, one of said sprockets positioned abovesaid turntable, two adjacent sprockets positioned at the sides 40 ofsaid central sprocket whereby said chain and said downwardly extendingsupport members are 4carried in an arcuate path coinciding with thccircumference of the rotatable turntable and the molds carried therebyare positioned under said tilting receptacles during the portion of therevolution of said Aturntable which allows pouring of metal from saidtilting receptacles to said molds.

2. In a mechanism for measuring and pouring molten metal into molds, arotatable turntable, a plurality of measuring and pouring receptaclescarried near the circumference of said turntable, means to tilt saidreceptacles in such relation that metal may be poured into saidreceptacles during a portion of the revolution of said turn'- table andpoured from said receptacles during another portion of the revolution ofsaid turntable, deecting members one positioned between each of saidmeasuring and pouring receptacles to over-lap adjacent receptacles, apivot for each of said deecting members, whereby said deecting membersare lifted with the tilting movement of said measuring receptaclesthereby to allow continuous pouring into said receptacles withoutinterference with the relative tilting movement thereof.

3. In a mechanism for continuously pouring molten metal into a pluralityof molds, a conveyor line adapted to carry a plurality of molds, acontainer for molten metal, a horizontally rotatable turntablepositioned between 'said container and said conveyor line in suchposition that said rotatable turntable is contacted and rotated bymovement of said conveyor line, a plurality of measuring and pouringreceptaclescarried on said turntable, means to tilt said receptacles topositions for receiving metal during a portion of the rotation of saidturntable when said receptacles are adjacent said container and to pourmetal therefrom during the portion of the rotation of said turntablewhen said receptacles are adjacent said conveyor line, whereby acontinuous flow of metal from said container is received and measured bysaid receptacles and poured into said molds on said conveyor line.

'4. A device for pouring molten metal into molds comprising a rotatableturntable, a plurality of pouring ladles carried on said turntable,

a conveyor line for carrying said molds movable in an arcuate pathadjacent the periphery of said turntable, projecting portions around thecircumference of said turntable shaped to form a sole synchronizing anddriving connection between said moving conveyor and said turntable andserving to rotate said turntable solely by contact with said' moldscarried on said,-moving conveyor, said projecting portions also shapedto position said molds relative to said pouring.

ladles in position to receive metal poured from said pouring ladlesduring the travel of said conveyor in said arcuate path.

5. In a device for continuously pouring molten lmetal into moldssuccessively presented to said device, a rotatable turntable, aplurality of pouring ladles positioned to be carried in a circular veyorin said arcuate path.

6. A means for measuring and pouring molten metal into molds carried bya continuously moving conveyor line characterized by a rotatableturntable carrying a plurality of measuring and pouring ladles near thecircumference thereof, said conveyor line having a path following anarcuate portion of the circumference of said turntable, projecting.portions around the circumdriving connection between said continuouslymoving conveyor line and said turntable by contact with said moldscarried by said conveyor, and said/projecting portions also formed tosuccessively position said molds to receive molten metal from saidpouring ladles as said turntable is rotated by contact of said moldswith said projections.

'7. The combination. with a mechanism for pouring molten metal of, aconveyor line, a rotatable turntable, a plurality of pouring receptaclescarried near the vcircumference of said turntable, projecting portionsaround the circumference of said turntable serving to guide saidconveyor in a path of travel coinciding with the arcuate path of thecircumference of said turntable and also shaped andpositione'd toprovide the sole 'driving connection between -said turntab'le and saidconveyor by contact with said molds on said conveyor, thereby to rotatesaid turntable synchronously with movement of said conveyor wherebymolds carried on said conpath on rotation of said turntable, a conveyor"ference of said turntable shaped to form a sole veyor are successivelypositioned under said pouring receptacles to receive molten metal duringrotation of said table and travel of said conveyor.

8. A device for measuring and pouring molten metal into molds which arecarried by a continuously moving conveyor line having a rotatableturntable carrying a plurality of measuring and pouring ladles in acircular path on said turntable, .said conveyor line having an arcuatepath adjacent the circular path of said pouring ladles characterized byprojecting portions around the circumference of said turntable servingas contacting membersaiording said conveyor as a sole driving means forsaid turntable and said projections also shaped to guide and positionsaid molds to saidI pouring ladles to receive molten metal therefromduring continuous movement adjacent said rotatable turntable.

9. In a device for continuously pouring molten metal into molds carriedby a. continuously moving conveyor, said device having a horizontallyrotating turntable, a plurality of pouring ladles pivotally mounted onsaid turntable, pouring lips extending from each of said ladlescharacterized by means to control the tilting movement of said ladles toposition said ladles to pour or receive molten metal, and projectingportions on said turntable formed to contact said molds carried on saidconveyor whereby said turntable is rotated solely by movement of saidconveyor, and said projections in such position relative to said pouringlips as to successively guide said molds into position to receive moltenmetal from the pouring lips of said ladles as said conveyor carries saidmolds adjacent said turntable.

10. A mechanism for continuously pouring molten metal into successivelypresented molds comprising a conveyor line for carrying said molds, arotatable turntable, a plurality of pouring receptacles carried on saidturntable, projecting portions extending from the circumference of saidturntable serving as a sole driving connection between said conveyorline and said turntable and positioned to guide said molds into locationto receive molten metal poured from said pouring receptacles as saidconveyor line continuously carries molds past said turntable.

11. In a pouring device for successively pouring molten metal into aplurality of molds, a horizontally rotatable turntable, a plurality ofmeasuring and pouring receptacles carried on Cil said turntable, meansto tilt said receptacles to

